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Iraq’s parliament recently passed controversial amendments to the personal status law, which critics argue could legalize child marriage for girls as young as nine. The new provisions grant Islamic courts greater authority over family matters such as marriage, divorce, and inheritance, marking a stark departure from the unified family law established in 1959.
Currently, Iraqi law sets the minimum marriage age at 18 in most cases. However, the new amendments allow clerics to determine marriage eligibility based on their interpretation of Islamic law. Under the Ja’afari school of Islamic jurisprudence, followed by many Shiite leaders in Iraq, girls in their early teens - or even as young as nine - could be deemed eligible for marriage.
Supporters of the amendments, predominantly conservative Shiite lawmakers, argue that the changes align with Islamic principles and push back against Western cultural influences. Yet, human rights activists and women’s groups have strongly opposed the revisions. Intisar al-Mayali, a member of the Iraqi Women’s League, warned, “This will have disastrous effects on women’s and girls’ rights, violating their right to childhood and undermining protections related to divorce, custody, and inheritance.”
The amendments sparked protests in Baghdad and other cities, with demonstrators carrying banners calling for the protection of children and women. Activists accuse lawmakers of exploiting procedural loopholes during the chaotic parliamentary session. Reports indicate that many legislators did not participate in the vote, raising questions about its legality.
The revisions have also been criticized for potentially legitimizing informal marriages, many of which involve girls under 14. By allowing religious sects to finalize marriages rather than civil courts, the new law could further entrench child marriages and erode existing safeguards.
Yanar Mohammed, president of the Organisation of Women’s Freedom in Iraq, denounced the amendments as a means to “terrorize Iraqi women” and strip them of modern legal protections. “This legislation reduces women to bodies for pleasure and reproduction, denying them their human rights,” she stated.
The amendments are part of a broader legislative package that includes laws on land restitution and general amnesty, which have also drawn criticism. Some lawmakers have signaled plans to challenge the vote in federal court, citing procedural violations.
Despite the controversy, Parliament Speaker Mahmoud al-Mashhadani praised the changes, calling them “an important step in enhancing justice and organizing citizens’ daily lives.” However, rights groups remain resolute in their opposition, warning that the amendments will deepen societal divisions and worsen the plight of women and girls across Iraq.
Source: https://www.dailymail.co.uk
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